Good news for travelers as the OPP reopened Hwy. 402, both eastbound and westbound, Sunday by mid-morning.
It had been closed since Thursday January 4 due to poor visibility in snow and blowing snow and multiple collisions in the Watford and Strathroy areas.
There are still partly snow covered sections and some blowing snow. Police urge motorists to adjust their driving to the conditions and proceed cautiously.
Environment Canada has ended both the snow squall warning for north and east Lambton County and the prolonged extreme cold warning for Sarnia-Lambton.
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Hwy. 402 westbound lanes between Nauvoo Rd. at Watford and Hwy. 401. reopened Sunday morning at 7:30am.
However, eastbound lanes from Sarnia towards Strathroy and London remained closed.
For updates, follow our twitter feed @BlackburnSarnia.
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Hwy. 402 was still closed Saturday both eastbound and westbound between Nauvoo Rd. at Watford and Hwy. 401.
Around 2:30pm Friday, OPP Constable Ed Sanchuk said plans to reopen the road might have to be delayed further due to snow and blowing snow caused by a persistent snow streamer off Lake Huron.
The highway was closed at mid-afternoon Thursday in response to multiple crashes in whiteout conditions.
No serious injuries have been reported.
Several motorists became stranded in the Strathroy area.
Strathroy-Caradoc opened the doors to its Gemini Sportsplex with help from the Salvation Army to provide shelter to 62 people overnight Thursday into Friday.
Greg McClinchey, the chief administrative officer for Strathroy-Carodoc, says for a bunch of people that got stuck in a snowbank, the morale was very high.
"Obviously they wanted to get where they were going, but they were very happy and certainly very thankful," says McClinchey. "We had movies for the kids, there was playing-cards if people wanted them, people chatted and visited. It was really quite a light atmosphere."
Individual municipalities have set up warming centres and residents are asked to check on the elderly and those who are vulnerable.
Police say road conditions in the area remain a challenge and motorists are asked to not travel in the Watford and Strathroy area unless absolutely necessary.